The Metro is reporting that QPR’s attacking midfield star Adel Taarabt has become a target for Real Madrid and the Spanish giants have jumped ahead of Manchester United and Liverpool to sign the Moroccan.

The QPR star has been in superb form this season in the Championship with 19 goals and 16 assists. Taarabt was linked with a move to Manchester United before joining QPR last summer. But it was thought that Liverpool had moved to the front of the queue to sign the attacking midfielder. Damien Camolli was the man responsible for bringing Taarabt to English football and he is now working for Liverpool as director of football and is reported to want to sign Taarabt again. But the player has reported told his current teammates that he is on Jose Mourinho’s radar. A move to Real Madrid would likely be too tempting to turn down.

QPR will be desperate to hold on to their captain as they prepare for life in the Premier League. But QPR could yet be denied promotion – if the ongoing hearing finds QPR guilty of third-party ownership in relation to the signing of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009, which could result in a points deduction.

Tottenham sold Taarabt to QPR for a fee in the region of £1m but there is believed to be a significant sell on clause of up to 50% - which will mean QPR will want to maximise any transfer fee.

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